East Bridgewater church to explore Absurdity’ of Christmas

Thursday

Dec 22, 2011 at 12:01 AMDec 22, 2011 at 10:09 PM

In a change of pace, the Community Covenant Church will present a Christmas Eve three-person drama on ‘The Absurdity of Christmas’ instead of a sermon. There will also be songs, candlelight and a Nativity procession.

Paula Vogler

The annual Christmas Eve service at the Community Covenant Church will feature a three-person drama this year.

“The Absurdity of Christmas” is an adaptation of a chapter in Max Lucado’s book titled “God Came Near” and, according to Pastor Don Olson, who wrote the adaptation, he chose the title because it was fitting for this time of year.

Frank MacLean narrates the play while Olson portrays a professor speaking to students about the fact that Jesus, son of God, was born as a human being in a stable.

Church member Lindsay Buzzee plays an inquisitive student who is challenging him because she cannot quite buy the fact that God did this and she thinks it is absurd.

“His response is, ‘It is absurd that God loves us this much to do it,’” Olson said. “The absurdity is not what God did, but why he did it.”

Olson is hoping the adults, families, and children who typically attend the church’s Christmas Eve service will relate to the drama more than to a traditional sermon.

He said a 5 p.m. start for the service was chosen in deference to the typical congregation as well.

“This drama is in place of a traditional service or message by me because I think this is more engaging for kids and their families,” Olson said. “The program is geared for all ages and the family, which is why it is earlier rather than later.”

Interspersed in the hour-long service will be the singing of familiar Christmas carols as well as selections by the church choir. Lights will then dim and the church will be bathed in candlelight, signaling the climax of the program.

Olson said at that point church member Melissa MacDonald will sing “O Holy Night” while high school students carry 12-inch tall Nativity figures to the front of the sanctuary and place them on a table.